The Durango High School boys soccer team’s win against Palisade on Saturday afternoon was a microcosm for the Demons’ entire season.
There were moments of offense brilliance, finishing ability and possession for Durango. On the other end, there were plenty of shaky moments from a defense that has struggled throughout the season.
Fortunately for Durango fans, players and specifically the team’s 11 seniors on senior day, there were more good plays than bad. The Demons put together one of their best halves of the season in the second half, outscoring Palisade, 3-0, to pull out a 4-2 win.
“I'm super proud of them,” Durango head coach Sean Ackerman said. “It kind of just reflects on how our season's been. We were top of the level at the beginning, it kind of dropped and then we rose to the level again. Super proud of the fight in them and I just can't be happier that we turned that game around.”
Durango improved to 8-6-1 overall and finished the regular season 5-4-1 in the 5A/4A Southwestern Conference. Senior forward Benjie Masterson had two goals, seniors Derek Caudle and Jonas Hughes each had a goal for Durango.
Palisade fell to 5-9-1 overall and 3-6-1 in the 5A/4A Southwestern League. Junior Cy Hobbs scored both goals for the Bulldogs.
Durango struck first thanks to an impressive display of skills by Caudle. He received a pass on the left side just outside the 18-yard box. Caudle dribbled around his defender and toward goal when he hit a great strike into the left side of the net between the keeper and his post. Durango led 1-0 with 18 minutes left in the first half.
Palisade quickly responded. Hobbs nearly mirrored Caudle’s goal on the other end by going through the Durango defense on the left side and chipping it past Harrison to tie the game with 15 minutes left in the first. Durango’s defense broke down again and Hobbs had an easy finish from close range to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead with 12 minutes left.
“We just didn't recognize the situation,” Ackerman said. “While we were ahead 1-0, we were trying to do too high-risk balls, and we were losing possession in our own half and our own third. We were creating our own issues.”
The Demons nearly had the equalizer with five minutes left. Palisade had a really bad turnover in its own 18-yard box and Durango sophomore Connor Allen was there to take the ball. He had a clean look at the goal from about 8 yards out, but skied it over the goal.
Down 2-1 at the half, Durango quickly responded in the second half. It dominated possession in the first two minutes, resulted in a bouncing ball inside the 18-yard box for Masterson. He judged the bounce perfectly and hit a great strike into the lower left corner to tie the game at two with 38 minutes left.
Only two minutes later, Durango struck again. This time, Hughes was in the perfect position to take a pass from the midfield, turn up the left side and speed toward goal. He managed to slip the ball past the keeper into the net before he and the keeper collided. Durango led 3-2 with 36 minutes left.
“ (We had) the fight, the desire and the communication,” Ackerman said about the second half. “The first half was a bit silent and they definitely raised the volume there in the second half. That always helps with the energy.”
Hobbs nearly had the equalizer two minutes later. He caught the Durango defense sleeping, dribbled past Harrison toward an open goal, but took too much time to finish and allowed the Durango defense to recover and clear the ball away.
Durango controlled possession of the ball and played through the wings on offense in the middle of the second. Palisade struggled to possess the ball and had less shots through the first 20 minutes of the second half.
Both teams had their chances in the last 20 minutes The Demons nearly had their fourth goal with a great cross from the right side to an open Masterson. He received the ball right in front of the keeper, but couldn’t find the angle past with 16 minutes left. Caudle had a chance from close range with 11 minutes left.
On a counterattack, the Demons fired a shot that was saved. Hughes got his legs taken out from underneath him going after the rebound and a penalty was called. Masterson had a classy finish in the lower right corner for the 4-2 lead with about seven minutes left.
Durango’s senior class is a special one for Ackerman. He’s coached them for three years and has developed a tight bond with them. It was an emotional senior day ceremony for Ackerman as he said he’ll miss this group.
However, the Demons aren’t done yet. They’ll make it to the 4A state playoffs and will have a road game in the first round. That matchup will be determined on Monday.
“If we build off a performance like that, we can beat most teams in the state, if not all of them,” Ackerman said. “But we just need to find that level and be consistent with it.”
bkelly@durangoherald.com
